Oat was born to lone she-wolf, the sole female in a litter of three. Life was tough one their own, and Oat vowed not she nor her pups would ever feel that pain. As soon as she turned two she struck out on her own. 

Accustomed to lone hunting, she easily took down a cow elk, filling her belly with pride with every bite she ate. A few days later, she took down an elk calf as well. As she ate from the carcass, she heard paws approaching. She turned and saw three males approaching. Seeing she had a carcass, they hung back. She wagged her tail and stepped away, inviting them to eat "I cant eat this all myself, you're more than welcome to some."

A black wolf stepped forward and introduced himself as Colt, a four year old from the Cinnabar pack. The other two were his brothers. As they talked Oat felt herself growing fond of this male. He listened intently as she told her story, and shared his own stories of hardship, telling Oat that she wasn't alone in fearing life as a lone wolf. Soon the sun had sent, and the two other brothers had continued on, but Oat and Colt fell asleep by the carcass. A few times that night they were awoken by coyotes and even other wolves, but Colt jumped right in to help Oat defend their meal.

It wasn't long before Oat asked him to join her, and they were headed into Slough Creek, where Colt had been born. As spring came around, Oat gave birth to her first litter of pups in a lightning-struck tree. And so, before she named them, she deemed them members of the Lightning pack.  There were six pups in total. Four females and two males. They named the females Rye, Wheat, Barely and Millet, while the males were named Corn and Buckwheat.

For a while, life was good. the young pack held a firm grip on their territory, and both adults handled parenthood well. But, as life goes, death was waiting and it came in the form of a rival pack wolf. The rival managed to grab Corn and snapped his neck with a violent shake before Oat and Colt could bite enough to chase them away.

As the last spring snows fell, the entire litter fell sick. Somehow, through exhaustion and sickness themselves, Colt and Oat managed to keep all five pups safe until they recovered. By then it was time to move from the den, and up the valley to a clearing the growing pups could romp in for the summer.

The summer passed with the five pups learning to hunt and patrol, and soon enough Oat was showing again. As winter came, they returned to the Lightning Tree and prepped for the new litter. 

This time, it was a litter of seven. Four she-wolves and three males. The family named them Pampas, Cat, Napier, Brome, Muhly, Scutch and Cogon. Oat thought that with last years pups to help, this litter would have a much easier spring.

But that's not how the story goes.

Pampas was the first to die, pulled by her tail from the den as she tried to flee, right into the jaws of a grizzly bear. Suffering from the shock of watching his sister's death, Scutch fell ill. Being early spring, the heavy snow still blanketed the hills, and the family were slowly starving.  Oat cried to the stars each night, until one shone the brightest and a familiar pupscent weaved around her. Her first loss, Corn.

"My son, my sweet runt, please help us. Please protect my youngest, your siblings. Please let us reach the summer grounds." She sobbed as she stared up at the sky. And the star seemed to twinkle.

As the winter snows melted, life improved. The family managed to scrape by and survive to hunt the weak winter elk. With fresh meat, the pups grew healthy and fast.

So when Napier fell sick a few days before their move to the summer grounds, Oat was only slightly concerned. She believed her bad luck had broke with the cry to her son, and Napier was healthy and strong, she could fight it off. 

But oh how wrong she was, for the night before the journey, Napier would shudder a final raspy breath and her young body would go still. Oat was torn apart by this, and screamed to any wolf that could hear, that she would raise her pups on the blood of newborn prey, to shake the souls of her prey like the ancestors have shaken her. 

And so when they reached the summer grounds, Oat began to hunt. In one day she piled elk calves and mule deer fawns in the center of the clearing, and watched, pleased as he r pups filled their bellies.

Still, her mind twisted with rage at the death of her pup, so when a trespasser walked too close to the grounds, Oat gave chase. She ran for miles, the blood of this wolf filling her mouth with every bite she hit. She knew they'd left Lightning territory and crossed into another Pack's, but she didn't care, and soon she overtook the wolf, and torn its throat from its neck, cutting short a cry for mercy, for surrender.

A week passed at the summer grounds, and the pile of young prey never emptied. But life was too good, and only two days after getting sick, Cogon passed. This was the final straw. Oat snapped.

She took her yearlings from the year before and together the six found a dispersal male on the outskirts of the territory. Oat had her first litter run him in circles until he collapsed, where she approached and stood over him. She met his eyes, wide with terror, and snarled "You have crossed the final border. No wolf returns from the Lightning pack's territory." She nipped at the large vein in his neck, catching it just right so that he wouldnt die instantly. She stepped back and raised her voice "Let this be a lesson to any wolf who can hear me. The Alpha of Lightning will show no mercy to any paws across our borders. Let the ancestors hear me now! No wolf, alive or dead, will claim another pup!" 

She watched the dispersal as his movement slowed, the puddle of blood growing larger. And as the last bit of life faded from him, she led her pack away, insuring the last thing he saw was his body being abandoned.

The area seemed to heed her warning, and her four remaining pups were left untouched to grow over the summer.

Her third litter was also seven pups, this time being six females and a single male. He was named Parkin, and the females were named Muesli, Steel, Milk, Quaker, Porridge and Macroom. Not long after their birth, Macroom and Milk fell ill, but when Oat reiterated her vow from the pervious summer, the ancestors let them be and they recovered.

A few weeks after, Quaker was grabbed by an eagle, and a moment later Steel fell ill. Terrified, Oat refused to leave his side, even through torrential rains that turned the den to mud. Steel recovered, but the rains didn't stop, and soon the den had flooded. Luckily Colt had found a nice cave den close by while patrolling and the small family moved there for the rest of the summer.

The nearest summer grounds to this den were across the lake, but living the last months so close to it had allowed the pups to become very adept swimmers so the small family had no issue swimming the lake. Once they reached the clearing Oat counted her pups, and realized Milk wasn't there. She retraced her steps, swam across the lake, and ran all the way back to the old den, but Milk was nowhere and her scent stopped at the lake. Heartbroken, Oat returned to the summer grounds. Over the summer, Porridge and Parkin would fall ill, but with fresh meat and warm weather, they recovered. At the end of the summer, Oat's first litter of pups; Rye, Wheat, Barley, Millet and Buckwheat left the Lighting pack to find families of their own.

The cycle repeated. Oat turned six and gave birth to a fourth litter, another set of seven pups, with five males and two females. They named the males Abyssinico, Byzantino, Stigoso, Brevis and Sterilis. The females were named Avena and Sativa. The spring went by slowly, with all seven pups growing, eating and playing. Oat spent this summer collecting human relics and presenting them to her pups. 

Returning from one of her adventures, Oat would find the den flooded, and the family moved across the river to a new den. Along the way Byzantino fell ill from the rain, but all survived the journey.

Near their new home was a beaver dam, and Colt and Oat would often rest above it on a hill while waiting for a beaver to emerge. They laid down to nap while waiting, and Oat awoke as the morning sun poked though the trees. She smelled a beaver at the bottom of the hill and whispered in Colt's ear "Colt. The beavers are back."

But he lay still. She prodded him, annoyed. His body was cold. "Colt?" She whimpered but she knew he was gone. He had died in his sleep at the age of eight. Racked with grief, she managed to give him a grave, and marked it with a stick before messily taking down a beaver and returning home.

That night Byzantino recovered. And for the following nights, dreams plagued Oat. Dreams of two she-wolves, and the sense of companionship. Oat grieved even harder after these dreams. She couldn't fathom getting another mate, but she understood that Colt didn't want her to be alone after all her pups went their own ways.

Not long after these dreams Abyssinico was stolen by a cougar, and Oat screamed bloody murder as she chased it down and saved her pup.  With him safe at her paws she screamed to the sky "You've taken pups from every litter! You've taken my mate! Leave his last pups alone!"

The family moved to the summer hunting grounds, where both Avena and Sterilis got sick and took months to recover but eventually the entire litter grew into healthy adult wolves. 

As her second litter left to find their own families, and her yearlings followed with a few of them, Oat headed back to Amethyst mountain to find the companion who kept appearing in her dreams. 

First she came across a female from Quadrant, but she was too strict, and attacked Oat for not submitting to her. Oat moved on, too tired to fight, only to get ambushed in her sleep by three other wolves.

Finally she met a dark grey female from 8 Mile who said her name was Aztec. She was playful, and dared Oat to a game of chase across the valley. Hours passed and finally the pair rested on a cliff overlooking Slough Creek.

"I came back to these mountains for the first time in four years." She whispered to the world. Aztec tipped her head, curiously encouraging a story. Oat continued "My mate passed over the summer. And I began having dreams of another wolf, a female, with me as a companion."

Aztec's ears pricked "Am I that wolf?"

Oat looked at her "If you like to be."

When they got to Slough Creek late that winter, they spent their days exploring the hills and valleys and found many human relics. Early that spring, Aztec's family told them of four pups whose parents had died. They happily agreed to take them in. 

The pups' names were Pinto, Alfalfa, Peanut and the sole girl named Chickpea. Aztec adored the pups, and spent all day playing with them. Soon, the den flooded and they moved to a cave up the hill, but once again that den flooded, so they moved again, this time down into the valley.

Life was going great, and the pups were healthy and growing. Oat left Aztec with the pups to go hunting. On her way back Aztec met her.

"They're gone!" Aztec cried, her ears flat to her head with worry.

Oat froze "What do you mean gone?" Her dull eyes narrowed at the younger wolf

"I looked away for a minute and they all vanished!" Aztec whimpered.

Oat dropped the chunk of elk meat she was carrying and raced towards the den. A cry of a golden eagle echoed through the valley. Oat's heart lept to her throat and she nearly vomited "FIND THE PUPS."

She ran in bigger and bigger circles, there wasn't enough time to try to scent them. Finally she ran into Alfalfa. She scooped him up and turned, only to see the eagle dive towards what she could only assume was a pup. She tried to scream through Alfalfa's scruff but the eagle beat her to the target.

"MAMA!" A shriek rang out.

Peanut. Oat's little boy, her favorite.

She chased the eagle for half a mile, Alfalfa still clutched in her jaws, but it flew beyond her grasp. She set Alfalfa down and screamed to the sky in pure agony.

Aztec appeared behind her, tail wagging nervously "You found one!"

Oat spun and charged at her, teeth bared "HOW COULD YOU! YOU KILLED HIM!"

Aztec cowered, her tail tucked tightly to her belly "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"

Oat practically stood on top over her, hauled her to her paws and shoved her away "Go find the others. And DO NOT leave the den site once you do."

Oat held Aztec to that. Aztec was forced to stay at the den site with the three remaining pups, getting her muzzle nipped every time Oat smelled that she had left. Even when Aztec complained that she was hungry, then starving, then growing weak from hunger, Oat forced her to watch the pups until one morning she didn't wake.

The pups asked why, and Oat only responded "Peanut got his revenge."

When Aztec's family saw her body, and Oat said she had been sick, they didn't believe her. They told her that no Lightning wolf may step paw near an 8 Mile ever again, or they would be killed. Oat just narrowed her eyes. 

While the pack turned away a young wolf approaches and introduces herself as the older sister to the pups Oat is raising. She tells her that no wolf from the Lightning pack may become mates with an 8 Mile wolf until the name is born again. Oat looked puzzled as the she-wolf walked away.

The pups outgrew the den and Oat led them to the summer grounds. She watched them with a sad smile as they played "These are my last pups. I would only like to explore in my last years of life." And when this litter left for the summer to return to their home-pack Oat returned to Amethyst to do just that.

In Amethyst she heard about a beautiful waterfall in the north, a few days journey from where  she entered the mountain range. She started in that direction, collecting a few more relics on her travel. 

She reached her destination in the dead of night. It was a beautiful waterfall, overlooking a valley and with a clear view of the sky. It was a few miles into another pack's territory but oat knew how to be stealthy. As the moon passed overhead, she sat and talked to Colt and her lost pups. The next morning a patrol from the pack who claimed the falls approached her. 

Oat lowered her gaze "I was only here to visit the falls." She whispered, standing on a rock in the river that fed them.

The other wolves nodded and the leader of the patrol spoke "We know, we allow passage to the Ancestor Falls. Wolves often come to speak with the dead here."

Oat wagged her tail nervously "I was unaware of this place, but I spoke to my lost mate and pups last night. It was wonderful."

"It is morning now, you should leave the territory." Another told her "If you'd like to explore, there's another waterfall in the south along Chalcedony, in mutual lands."

And so Oat set off in that direction, stopping to feed on a fresh elk kill, and picking up another human relic. But she was disappointed when she reached the falls, they were not as beautiful as the Ancestor Falls. 

As she wandered the area, a pair of brothers followed her, vying for her attention. Oat paid them no mind at first, but soon found herself enjoying the company. She struck up a conversation with the one named Zach when they stopped to eat off an elk carcass. He reminded her of Colt.

"You should be out looking for younger wolves." She told him "I'm only spending my last few years exploring these mountains."

The younger wolf listened attentively, and explained that he wasn't in a rush to find a mate, and offered to join her exploration. They split off from the other brother, who said his name was Cody. 

Oat taught Zach how to catch rabbits, explaining that their soft meat was good for pups and older wolves who don't have teeth. He was clumsy and struggled to catch them at first, trying to run full speed at them and grab them as he passed, but Oat explained that he could ambush them, and suddenly Zach had caught four rabbits. They slept on Oat's favorite overlook rock and talked well into the night. Over the next few days Oat realized she was falling for this wolf, just like she had for Colt. 

By the time spring was on the horizon, Oat recognized the feeling in her belly. Pups. Although she was old, and hadn't wanted another litter, she told Zach and they agreed to raise this litter as mates. Zach promised he'd make her proud and told her he'd try to be as good as Colt. Oat smiled.

The pair had two pups, both male, named Molasses and Salt. Zach was true to his word, he patrolled the den site, and played with the pups, and stayed behind to watch them while Oat went hunting. Until one day. 

The pair had not eaten in days, and they thought the pups were in the den but when they returned from their hunt Molasses was gone. They ran around searching for him, only to get hit with the stench of a bear.  Oat charged after the scent, and saw the bear grab Molasses.

"NO! ZACH HELP!" She shrieked, but the bear was too fast for them, and they had to give up the chase. Oat dropped to the ground and screamed a heartbreaking wail. 

Zach hung his head and sobbed "I'm so sorry Oat. I should've stayed behind like I always do..."

Oat whimpered "My last litter... They couldn't even let my last litter live..."

Zach licked her ears "We still have Salt. We'll take care of him, and Colt will care for Molasses."

 And that's what they did. They left for the summer grounds and spent the months with their remaining son. 

One night in late July, Oat felt light and happy. The world was warm, her family was happy.

"Are you alright?" Zach nudged her. 

Oat looked towards him, his face was foggy, and his words were far away "What? Yeah I'm fine."

Zach sat next to her "Is it time?"

Oat laid her head down and sighed. She had warned the younger wolf of death, knowing he would outlive her. He knew what to expect. "I think it is."

Zach laid down next to her. Salt saw the pair resting and trotted over "What are you doing? It's not time to sleep."

Zach motioned for him to lay down "Your mother is tired. Come lay with us."

Salt squeezed between his parents and Oat licked him between the ears "You know I love you, right?"

Salt nodded "Of course Momma..." He gave her a confused look "Why, are you okay?"

"Remember how after Molasses was taken by the bear, I told you where wolves go when they die?" Oat struggled to keep her voice from breaking.

Salt nodded, eyes growing wide.

"When wolves get old, our bodies stop working. And one day, we die. It happens to every animal, from the biggest wolf, to the smallest rabbit. Old wolves can feel it coming, it feels like you're about to sleep for a long time."

Tears pricked Salt's eyes "A-are you going to sleep Momma?"

Oat licked his ear again "Yes little one, It's my time to go with Molasses and the rest of our family. I'll still be with you and your father, and when you and him go back to Amethyst this year, he can show you the Ancestor Falls, where you can talk to me and your brother."

Salt choked back a sob, but tears ran down his face "Okay momma, I love you. You can go to sleep. I will stay with you."

Zach rested his head on his son's back "We'll both stay Oat. And we'll go to the falls and visit you."

Oat smiled and sighed again. She was content. She had had a good life. She'd raised six litters of pups, with three mates, and knew any of her twelve daughters would be a great heir to her life legacy.

The sun rose and melted away the night's dew. Zach woke and touched his nose to Oat's. She was cold, and no breath passed her nose. He stepped back and took a deep breath "Goodbye my friend. Thank you for all you've taught me."

He then nudged Salt "Come on little one, we should find a spot for her to sleep."

Salt blinked his eyes open, and looked over to his mother "Is she with Molasses?"

Zach nodded "Come. We're going to find her a final resting place." By sunset they had dug her a hole, in a wildflower patch by a peaceful creek, and gently rolled her body in. They sat at the gave until moon high.